Random musings from a "rabid" reader. The title comes from my admiration of John Updike and his Rabbit Angstrom series.When I read a review of a book I have not read, I only read enough to get a general idea of the content. If it sounds interesting, I make a note of the review, read the book, and only then do I go back and read the review completely. I intend these short musings to convey that spirit and idea to the readers of "RabbitReader." --Chiron
Sunday, March 15, 2009
The History of Now by Daniel Klein
The letter accompanying this early reviewers copy mentions that 38 publishers turned this novel down as “too philosophical.” Of course, the list of novels rejected by numerous publishers, which later became blockbuster, best sellers, is long. A recent example – J.K. Rowling and the seven-volume Harry Potter series.
Daniel Klein has spun a remarkable philosophical tale, which reminds me a little of Richard Russo and his small town cast of characters. Personally, I can’t wait for the next two volumes in the “Grandville Trilogy” to piece together a complete picture of this Massachusetts town, its history, and the interesting cast of characters that populated it from its founding several hundred years ago up to the months following 9/11.
Philosophical novels that delve deeply into the psyche of the characters enthrall me every time, and Klein’s novel is no exception.
This novel, scheduled for publication in March 2009, is a must read for all students of fiction. I am going to get a copy, and I will update this reviews with some quotes from the published version. 5 stars
--Chiron, 3/15/09
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